Every once in a decade a dynamic talent bursts onto
the scene injecting exciting new energy and captivating imagery into the
field. In recent years Russ Kramer has emerged as one of these artists.

After cutting his artistic ‘eye
teeth’ as a staff artist for the Tampa Tribune, where he created literally
hundreds of dramatic depictions of daily news events as they unfolded-- he
went on to refine his skills by engineering the entire re-design of major
newspapers like the Wichita Eagle, and the Christian Science Monitor--all
the while remaining a Marine Artist in the making. His inspiration at an
early age was none other than the master watercolorist Carl Evers, whose
book The Marine Painting of Carl Evers started Russ on his chosen path.

By 2002 he was pursuing his Marine Art career full
time. His vibrant, action-packed renditions of classic yachting wowed
collectors right from the start. They were quickly acknowledged by the
experts when he received an Award of Excellence and two Yachting Awards at
the prestigious Mystic International Maritime Exhibitions.

Since then, Russ’
marine paintings have also been featured prominently in Yachting, Wooden
Boat, Sail and Italy’s leading yachting magazine Yacht Design. His own
design of a classic motor yacht “The Kramer55” was spotlighted by Yachting
magazine and is scheduled to begin construction in the near future. He has
participated in many offshore passages from Newport to Jamaica, and the
well-known St. Petersburg to Havana Race. The New York Times best-selling
author Ted Bell sought him out and commissioned him to create original
paintings for two of his best-selling books “Nick of Time” and “The Time
Pirates.” His fellow artists already think so highly of his contributions to
the field that in 2010 he was elected to serve as President of the American
Society of Marine Artists.

To create his complex compositions Russ combines old
fashioned drawing skills-- posing actual people dressed in period costume--
with photography and special computer programs to arrive at just the right
combination of realism and atmosphere to incorporate into his canvases. His
unique vision creates first-hand experiences for the viewer, putting you
right on board during some of history’s greatest yacht races. He’s also
completed many paintings of individual yachts on commission from classic
Watch Hill “15’s” and “J24’s,” to one of a kind 52’ Schooners, and a 135’
Jongert designed ketch. Regardless of subject matter, a sense of the
dramatic moment, combined with meticulous research and attention to detail
have helped his work find an enthusiastic audience among sailors and
connoisseurs of fine painting.